Empowering Haitians to build a stronger Haiti. This is the PLH motto. But this is not just a catchy phrase or an abstract idea. This is the metric by which PLH operates. This month, I was proud to see the leaders of PLH put this into practice yet again by including our Haitian leaders in their strategic planning process.

PLH is currently in the process of developing a 3-year strategic plan. Guesly Dessieux (CEO) and Sarah Comstock (Board Chair) asked me, as the in-country worker, to arrange a meeting with three of our Haitian staff to complete the first stage of the strategic planning process.

On Aug 17, Thonny Fabien (Haiti Operations Manager), Benedic Maxime (Camp Marie Operations Manager), Gerald Grecilien (English Instructor), and myself joined together to discuss the desired state of PLH — where we want to see the organization in 3 years. As instructed, we asked ourselves, “What is a 10?” In other words, what would it look like if PLH was functioning in a way that warranted a score of 10 out of 10? We considered programs, administration, organizational culture, infrastructure, financial management, etc.

Throughout the discussion, I continued to marvel at the passion, commitment, and pride of the three men that sat with me. They openly shared their ideas, dreams, and concerns. They listened and fed off each other and myself. They took their task seriously. Much of what they discussed was in regards to the culture of PLH: how we as an organization can blend Haitian culture and American standards and how we can perpetuate a Christ-like attitude within our own team as well as the larger community we are a part of. They discussed the end goals of spreading the gospel and empowering individuals to succeed. I appreciated how they didn’t only list the programs and facilities that they dreamed of having for the community but they also put thought into what a healthy organization looks like and what the true results of the work will be.

As we reached the end of our 3-hour meeting, Benedic commented, “This is the longest I’ve ever spent speaking English.” I am so proud of this man and the leader and advocate he is for PLH and his community. As the operations manager for Camp Marie, he fields most of the questions and requests from the community, oversees projects and resolves issues, and PLH has high expectations on him, but he stands firm. None of us are perfect, but he is humble, level-headed, and rooted in Christ.

In a few weeks, the stateside team will conduct their own strategic planning session asking themselves “What is a 10?” But the notes from the Haiti meeting will serve as a valued voice of the Haitian people. In the upcoming months, we plan to continue working through the next three steps of the process with the Haitian and stateside committees.

This process has reiterated why it is that I believe in PLH and what they are doing. I am proud to work for an organization that values their staff and those they serve enough to give them a platform and truly hear what they have to say. And I am proud to work alongside American and Haitian employees that are passionate and comfortable enough to share their voice and work together to accomplish a shared goal. I am also humbled by the community of people in Oregon, Missouri, Kansas, and so many other places who support this work with their time, money, knowledge and passion. Together, we truly are empowering Haitians to build a stronger Haiti.

PLH is strong. God has blessed this organization with experienced, humble leaders, with committed workers, and with passionate supporters. These three groups make up the PLH community. I consider myself blessed to be a part of it. I hope you do too.

My name is Pierre Descieux and I am one of the board members for Project Living Hope. I was raised in Haiti but moved to the U.S in my early teens. I remember playing football (soccer) in the middle of the street where I grew up. The street would be closed to traffic and all our neighbors, family and passersby would gather to watch. Everyone would cheer for us kids for putting on a show. We didn’t have a coach showing us the game, we didn’t have a referee, and our soccer ball was made from a balloon surrounded with rags and plastic. We usually kept the real soccer ball for playing in the grass and dirt a few streets away. Although my grandmother was not a football fan, she was always seated on the side of the street to watch the games. Haitians are very passionate about the game of soccer.

Last January, I was able to participate in the weeklong soccer camp in Fonds Parisien with Guesly and the team from Oregon. I was overwhelmed with personal feelings because it brought back so many memories. Our team had lots of soccer balls, jerseys, shoes, and other equipment. to distribute The children and coaches were so happy that even the quiet ones couldn’t contain themselves. From that day on I fully understand the impact PLH’s vision could bring to the children of Haiti.

During that week of camp, Guesly and I began making plans for our next camps in Fonds Parisien. We wanted to come back as soon as possible because we had seen the importance of teaching the youth organized soccer, an opportunity neither of us had growing up playing in the street. But our plans were crushed midyear even as we were planning for our next trip. Due to an unforeseen situation, we had to make new plans. These two verses came to mind as we were looking and listening for God’s direction in the midst of our planning.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.” Hebrew 13:20-21

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

In Fonds Parisien, I believe God was teaching us how to best serve a community; he was preparing us for what He had in store for us. As an organization God taught us to rely solely on Him. And God led us to a small community near St. Marc on the western coast. There, in Camp Marie, we have truly seen how our presence will make the greatest impact. We’ve also seen God’s hope in the eyes of the people in the community.

In a few weeks, PLH will have our first soccer camp in two different communities in our new location. The excitement is very high among kids and adults in the communities. Just walking around the community, strangers were shaking our hands thanking us for thinking of them. In their eyes, they see us as Haitians coming to give back to their forgotten community. The youths are excited about the camp and were eager to show us their skills as we passed by. We are looking forward to working in our new location and we are eager to share with you all how God is using all of us to further his kingdom.

Life is such a whirlwind sometimes! It's already been two weeks since my family and I returned from a two-week trip to Haiti. It was a marvelous trip and we'd love to tell you all about it, but let me share a couple of the highlights:

SOCCER

We were able to attend two soccer games put on by Play It Forward. Since we don’t have a soccer field at Haitian Christian Mission, all the games are held at Love a Child, a Christian organization down the road from the mission. Calling it a field is quite a stretch. With only a few patches of grass and a mix of dirt, sand and gravel, the ball bounces unpredictably when it lands. Unlike the grass fields we enjoy, the hard surface does not slow the ball. The young players skid around on the rocks while we spectators cringe knowing injury or at least a torn up leg is a real possibility. And yet, the athletes give it all they've got simply for the love of the game. All ages come out to watch, standing all around the field.

I know that Sarah Comstock, Guesly and I were all envisioning how awesome it will be when they play on a turf field. A safer environment will not only improve players’ skills and increase participation, but also express how much Play It Forward values each life. With your help, we will provide a soccer field for these hard-working athletes, and for the little children who were playing thumb wars and London Bridge with my kids on the sidelines.

JOB SKILL TRAINING

Sarah Comstock and I spent a couple hours talking with students in the Project Living Hope trade school. The students are being trained in auto mechanics, culinary arts and artisanry. We were touched by how serious some of the students are about their programs, and by how grateful they are to all of us (you!), who are making this training possible for them.

For example, Roudine was in Philo (Haiti's 13th and final grade) last year but she didn't pass the national exam. Her family cannot afford for her to repeat the year of school so she is studying on her own and hopes to pass next time. The culinary class is giving her something else to work toward during this time. If she can get a job as a cook, she wants to go to college to be a nurse or a teacher.

In addition, Danul has long wanted to become an auto mechanic, but he never imagined he would learn the trade at the same time as he was completing his last two years of high school. He appreciates his knowledgeable trade school teacher. Sarah and I left our conversation with him determined to supply his class with more tools and more engines to work on.

Danul

Roudine

Roudine and Danul represent a small sampling of the numerous inspiring stories being written through the trade school. With your help, we will keep this education opportunity available, improve it every year, and secure additional classroom space.